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Obituaries

91 year old Dr. W.E. "Doc" Vanatta of Smithville died Thursday at his residence. The funeral will be Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at the Smithville Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Larry Green will officiate and burial will be at DeKalb Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Friday from noon until 8:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at Love-Cantrell Funeral Home and from noon until 2:00 p.m. at the church. Dr. Vanatta was a Chiropractor and a member of the Smithville Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Dr. Vanatta was ordained as an Elder in 1950 and he had been an assistant Sunday School Superintendent since 1947 and a Sunday School teacher at the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Dr. Vanatta was one of the original owners of WJLE from 1964-2007 and he received the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters Lifetime Membership Award at the 60th Anniversary Gala in May, 2008. He was one of the first members appointed to serve as director on the Smithville Electric System board when the utility was established in 1969 and he remained an active member and Vice Chairman until his death. He was also a talented musician. Dr. Vanatta was preceded in death by his parents, Jasper Willins and Amanda Elizabeth Estes Vanatta and his first wife, Louise Corley Vanatta. He is survived by his wife, Nell Vanatta of McMinnville. Two daughters and sons-in-law, Jeanne and Donnie Foutch of Old Hickory and Mary and Oscar Boyd of Smithville. Two step-sons, James Timothy and wife Ruth White of Atlanta, Georgia and Gerald Harvey and wife Charlene White of Georgia. Step-daughter, Marilyn and husband Tom Angelo of California. Two granddaughters, Renee and husband Eric Renner of Alabama and Robin and husband Jeremy Mahlow of Knoxville. Five great grandchildren, Camden and Mark Renner of Alabama, Eleanor, John and Oliver Mahlow of Knoxville. Special caregivers, Sherry Brannon, Linda Stahl, Ashley Beth Hobbs, Tammy King, Martha Fults, Rhonda Peet, and Mina Lyons. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. The family requests that donations be made to the Lighthouse Christian Camp and Gideon Bibles in lieu of flowers.

18 year old Weston Andrew Cole of Mt. Juliet died at his home on Monday. The funeral service will be Friday at 11:00 a.m. at the Tulip Grove Baptist Church. Dr. Alec Cort and Dr. Gerald Bontrager will officiate and burial will follow at Hermitage Memorial Gardens. Visitation with the family will be Thursday 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Hermitage Funeral Home and Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at Tulip Grove Baptist Church. Cole was a member of the Tulip Grove Baptist Church, where he was in the youth band and an active member in the summer missions program. Cole was a 2010 graduate of Mount Juliet Christian High School and was due to start college at UT Chattanooga. Cole was preceded in death by grandfather, Robert Russell Herndon. He is survived by parents, Todd and Carol Herndon Cole; brother, Mitchell Cole; grandparents, Buddy and Faye Cole; grandmother, Betty Jean Herndon; uncle, Bobby Herndon; aunt, Jennifer Cole; aunts and uncles, Lynn and Richard West, Mary and Joe Pugh, Martha and Greg Riggs, Mark and Sandi Herndon, and Tim and Tracey Cole; and several cousins. The family requests that donations be made, in lieu of flowers, to the Weston Cole Youth Mission Fund at Tulip Grove Baptist Church. Hermitage Funeral Home at Old Hickory is in charge of the arrangements.

81 year old Jewell Bryson Hale Melton died Sunday at her home in the Short Mountain Community. She was born in Cannon County and she was retired from Genesco. The funeral will be Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Woodbury Funeral Home. Tim Pelham and Tim Pack will officiate and burial will be in Melton Cemetery. Visitation begins at 11:00 a.m. Monday. Melton was the daughter of the late Lucian Bryson and Sarah Lavada Stone Bryson Melton. She was also preceded in death by her husbands, Shelah Hale and Frank Melton; her son, Freddie Hale; and her daughter-in-law, Brenda Hale. Survivors include her children, Brenda and husband Gerald Motley, Harry and wife Eddena Hale, Larry Hale, and James and his wife Marilyn Hale all of the Short Mountain Community. Grandchildren, Donna Motley James, Robert Motley, Jeremy Motley, Stephen Hale, Craig Hale, Tina Hale Tittsworth, Kristie Hale Miller, Shelia Hale Ellis, Chad Hale, and Leslie Hale Pelham. Eighteen great grandchildren also survive. Woodbury Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

87 year old Rubye Lee Adcock Ferrell of Smithville died Friday at DeKalb Community Hospital. She was a homemaker and a member of the New Bildad Primitive Baptist Church. The funeral will be Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Ricky Arnold will officiate and burial will be in Town Cemetery. Visitation will be Saturday from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. She was preceded in death by husbands, Richard Adcock and Ernest Ferrell. Survivors include two daughters, Billye Ann and husband Glenn Baker of Liberty and Virginia and husband Edward Smotherman of Christiana. Four grandchildren, Wayne and Abbie Barnes and Joey Barnes all of Smithville, Ricky and Suzie Smotherman of Christiana and Brian and Peggy Smotherman of Unionville. Three great grandchildren, Colby Davis Barnes of Smithville and Carson Lee Smotherman and Shelby Raulston all of Christiana and special friends, Terry Barnes and Annie Ruth Greer of Smithville. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

93 year old Gladys E. Griffith of Smithville died Friday at her residence. She was a member of the Jacobs Pillar United Methodist Church and she worked at Worthan Industries. She was a homemaker. The funeral will be Sunday at 3:00 p.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Royce Martin will officiate and burial will be in the Bethel Cemetery. Visitation will be Saturday from 1:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 3:00 p.m. She was preceded in death by her husband, John M. Griffith. Survivors include a son, Jerry and his wife Penny Griffith of Smithville. A sister-in-law, Madgeline Joins of Smithville. Step grandchildren, Jade Moser and Randal and wife Kandy Cantrell. Step-great grandchildren, Summer Adcock, River Moser, Lake Moser, Mykel Cantrell, and Kaycee Cantrell. Nephews, Roger Griffith and Denny Joines. A niece, Judy Adcock and special friend, Mary Ann Ivey. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

49 year old Jack Preston McGuire, Jr. of Tullahoma and formerly of Smithville died Monday in Knoxville. He was a member of the King's Cross Church and he worked as the area account manager for Staffing Solutions. A memorial service will be held Thursday at 4:00 p.m. at the Kings Cross Church. Mike Young and Glen Denton will officiate. Visitation will be Thursday from 2:00 p.m. until the time of the service at 4:00 p.m. at the church. He is survived by his wife, Sherrie McGuire of Tullahoma. Children, Maggie and Grant McGuire. His father, Jack P. McGuire, Sr. and his wife Sue of Smithville. His mother, Bobbie Fite and her husband Charles of Lebanon. Half sisters, Nancy and husband Jimmy Goad of Liberty and Becky and husband Rick Fussell of Hermitage. Half- brother, Eddie and wife Frances McGuire of Smithville. The family requests that donations be made to Habitat for Humanity or to Stepping Stones Pre-school at Highland Hills Church of Christ. WJLE received information about this obituary from both DeKalb Funeral Chapel and Love-Cantrell Funeral Home.

63 year old Carl Thomas Wiser of Murfreesboro died Monday . He was a native of McMinnville and the son of late David C. and Ovalee Scott Wiser. The funeral service will be at 2:00 p.m Thursday at Woodfin Memorial Chapel in Murfreesboro with Jerry Howard officiating. Burial will follow in DeKalb Memorial Gardens. He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Brenda Gail Adams Wiser, daughters, Carla and husband Danny Catignani, Wendy and husband Richard Knowlton. Four grandchildren Kristi, Ashley, Daniel Catignani, and Thomas Brian Knowlton. A brother, Jerry and wife Jewel Wiser. Sisters, Carolyn McGregor, Wanda and husband Chester Sullivan, and many nieces and nephews. Wiser was a member of the Mt. Herman Baptist Church and a retired United States Postal Service employee. He served his country in the United States Air Force and was Past Master of the McWhirtersville Masonic Lodge 375 F&AM in Donelson.
Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m Wednesday with Masonic Rites at 7:00 p.m Wednesday, and from 10:00 a.m until service time Thursday at Woodfin Memorial Chapel in Murfreesboro.

30 year old Billy Randall "Randy" Bennett, Jr. of Carthage died Sunday. He was a tree trimmer. Bennett was born in Wilson County. The funeral will be Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria. Billy Hale will officiate and burial will follow in the Bennett Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until the service. He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Billy Bennett; an uncle, Jerry Wayne Bennett; and an aunt, Linda Gail Bowl. Survivors include his wife, Melissa Bennett of Carthage. A son, Billy Randall Bennett, III of Carthage. His mother, Mary Kathrine Enoch of Brush Creek. His father and step-mother, Billy Randall, Sr. and Elizabeth Bennett of Carthage. Sisters, Rhonda Gail Overstreet of Hartsville and Briana Bennett of Carthage. Grandparents, Charles and Helen Enoch of Brush Creek and Bobbie Jewell Bennett of Lebanon. Aunts and uncles, Nancy Bennett, Tammy and husband Tracy Thompson, Kay and husband Jay McDowell, and Karen and husband Anthony Andrews. Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria is in charge of the arrangements. The family has requested that donations be made to the family at the funeral home, in lieu of flowers.

39 year old Christopher Allen Hale of Woodbury died Saturday at River Park Hospital in McMinnville. He was a member of the Pleasant View Baptist Church, a National Guard veteran, having served with the 278th in Iraq from November, 2004 to November, 2005. Hale was also employed by the Rutherford Farmers Coop in Woodbury. The funeral will be Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Jeff Crips and Michael Hale will officiate and burial will be in Pleasant View Cemetery with military honors. Visitation will be Monday from 11:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. until the service at 4:00 p.m. Hale was preceded in death by his father, Charles Allen Hale and his grandparents, Edwin and Ruth Moss Dunn and James "Slim" and Evelyn Atnip Hale. Hale is survived by his wife, Stephanie Hale of Woodbury. Children, Bryan Hale and Shane Hale both of Manchester and Jessica Arnold and Emily Hartman both of Woodbury. A granddaughter, Bailey Hale of Manchester. Parents, Vicky and Nelson Sandlin of Liberty. Brothers, Michael and wife Tara Hale of Smithville and John and wife Amanda Sandlin of Liberty. Nieces and nephews, Jaley, Maddox, and Kayla Hale, Jacob Sandlin, Aaron Sissom, and Amanda Francis. Mother-in-law, Debbie and husband Michael Zerio of Connecticut. Sister-in-law, Dela Sissom of Woodbury. Grandmother-in-law, Elsie Smith Walden. Several aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends also survive. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

77 year old Patricia Ann Goodson of Smithville died Thursday at her residence. She was a Baptist and she worked in the meat department at Albertson's. A memorial service will be Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Visitation will be Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until the service at 11:00 a.m. Goodson was preceded in death by her parents, Bob and Ardola Smith; husbands, Billy Zee Pultz, Lewis Gayle Peck, and James Leroy Goodson. She is survived by children, Billie Zee and wife Dorothy Goodson of Oklahoma, Jimme Lee and wife Bonnie Peck of Smithville, Jerry Gayle and wife Teri Peck of McMinnville, Mark Alan and wife Sharon Goodson of Smithville. Grandchildren, Jeff Levan, Jamie Goodson, Tommy and Bryan Goodson, Jennifer and Lee Peck, Samantha, Ariel, Kayla, Austin, and Dalton Peck, and Tara, Drew, Nikki, Amanda, Samantha, and Brooke Goodson. Numerous great grandchildren also survive along with sisters, Joyce Greg of Lincoln, Nebraska and Brenda McGuire of Florida. Brothers, Bud Smith of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Bob Smith of Indiana, and John Pultz of Florida. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.